Wondering how to talk about money with your kids? Why not start at the dinner table? Next time you sit down to dinner, instead of the customary, “how was your day?” questions, try something different. Take turns asking each other about money, spending, saving and financial goals. Sound boring? It’s definitely not! You’ll learn so much about what your kids value and what drives their money habits. Here are some questions to get you started.
1. What would you buy with $100?
2. If you had to give away a million dollars, to whom would you give it?
3. If you could pick one thing you never have to pay for again, what would it be?
4. If earning money didn’t matter, what would your dream job be?
5. What is the first thing you remember learning about money?
6. Have you ever regretted buying something? If so, what?
7. What’s something you can do to save money?
8. Can you think of a time when you gave a gift to someone that made you feel really happy? Describe the experience.
Once you’ve asked these questions, think of your own! Talking about money with children starting at a young age helps them build strong financial habits as they get older. Having these conversations in a casual, neutral setting like dinner can be more effective at building a dialogue than during tense times like walking through the toy aisle of the store.
Want to take this activity even further? Check out our money microphone activity on our resource page to turn these questions into a fun family game.
